Rafael Nadal, the legendary 22-time Grand Slam champion, has expressed uncertainty about his participation in next month’s French Open. Nadal, who turned 37 this year, is currently playing in the Madrid Open despite battling persistent pain from a recent injury. The Spaniard revealed that he is far from top form and is only playing against American teenager Darwin Blanch in the first round as a personal sacrifice.
Nadal acknowledged that he would not be able to play at 100% in his current condition and hinted that he may not be able to compete in Roland Garros. However, he emphasized that he is determined to do everything possible to be ready for Paris. Nadal’s return to competition has been met with mixed results. After winning his first two matches in Brisbane, he lost in three sets to Australian Jordan Thompson in the quarter-finals. He then played in the Barcelona Open last week, winning his first-round match before falling to Australian fourth seed Alex de Minaur in the second round.
Nadal is scheduled to face de Minaur again in Madrid if he defeats 16-year-old Blanch in the first round. The Spaniard expressed his competitive nature but admitted that it is difficult to play without being able to give his best. He stated that he was not happy with his performance in Barcelona but recognized that it was necessary to prevent further aggravation of his injury.
Tennis fans have reacted with concern to the news of Nadal’s uncertain participation in the French Open. Many have expressed sadness and disbelief at the prospect of the iconic player missing the tournament. Nadal has hinted at retirement after the 2024 season, and fans are eager to see him give a strong performance in Paris before he steps away from the sport.
